Page 16

Chapter Sixteen

Griffin's Beach Colt

S low songs finally start making their way into the song rotation, and Colt takes Lex's hand, pulling her onto the makeshift dancefloor outside the cabin. Unless he's shitfaced, he's not the type to get onto the dancefloor when a fast-paced song comes on. Sure, he can be out there with the kids for the YMCA or chicken dance, but anything else falls outside his sober-minded comfort zone.

“It's our song,” Lex says, her fingers toying with the short, buzzed hairs at the base of his neck. “Who knew Bryan Adams could make me fall in love with you all over again every time I hear this song?”

“I don't know, but I can't say I'm anything but happy about it,” he says and kisses her as their bodies sway in time to the music.

Her head rests on his shoulder when they pull apart, and he sees Felicity standing with Ky, her eyes shooting daggers at Lex. Ky asked earlier if he had any idea why Lex and Felicity were suddenly mortal enemies, but he just shrugged. The last thing Ashley deserves is a brawl at her wedding, and as much as he wants to tell Ky, he can't bring himself to break his best friend's heart.

Lex doesn't seem to notice the woman's icy glares. Or, if she does, she doesn't care. Knowing his wife is fiercely protective always turned him on, but it's another thing to see it in action. As much as it scares the shit out of him, he knows she'd take a bullet for anyone she considers family, and there aren't many people out there who can say that about their wives. Loyalty and devotion rank at the top of the traits he finds most attractive about Lex.

“What?” Lex asks, tilting her head as she looks up at his face. He hadn't noticed she lifted her head from his shoulder. “What's with the look?”

“I was just thinking,” he says. “Started when I noticed Felicity mean mugging you.”

“Fuck her,” she says and smiles at him. “I don't have time for flaky bitches these days.”

Licking his lips, he kisses her. “That was also what I was thinking about.”

“Not having time for flaky bitches?”

He laughs. “No, goofball. You. The way you defend Ky and Diesel. Hell, all the men of the club, even when you have had more than enough reasons to walk away and tell us all to go to hell. No matter what happens, you're still ride or die. It's incredibly sexy.”

“You know why that is, right?”

“Because it's how you were raised and don't know any other way?”

Giggling, she lowers her hand to his left peck. “Probably, but I like to think that it's because of this.”

“My heart?”

“Yes. Your heart owns mine, and I would never make it without you. I've tried, and it sucked. It really sucks. But being here in your arms like this makes everything worth it. Everything we've been through doesn't matter because I love it when you hold me like I'm the only person in the world.”

“I hate that the cabin is currently set up for Grayson and Ashley. When you talk like that, all I want to do is take you inside to bury myself deep inside you.”

Sighing, she smiles. “If you could feel my panties right now, you'd know I feel the same, baby.”

“Fuck,” he growls, his need pressing against her. “I wonder if we can take off without anyone noticing.”

“Doubtful. Best man, remember?”

The idea of his wife as a best man still boggles his mind, but he loves the way she's wearing her black dress. His phone buzzes in his pocket, and it's in a perfect spot to elicit a moan from her. Laughing, he's tempted to let it just ring, but he figures it must be important.

Pulling it out, he sees Phoenix Hankinson's number on the screen. “Hold that thought, baby,” he says and steps away from the music and the crowd. “Hey.”

“Hey, are you and Lex still at the cabin?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Lily's in labor. The kid's gonna be here soon,” Phoenix says as Lily screams in the background. “Like, really soon. She's too far along to give drugs to, and I may need you all to pray for me.”

His eyes widen. “We'll swing by the hospital before we leave for home. Lex would kill me if we didn't get a chance to see Lily and the baby. See you soon, man. Good luck.”

“What's up?” Lex asks as he walks back over to them, everyone suddenly looking at him.

“Lily's in labor. Based on the screams and the lack of drugs they can give her, I'm guessing the kid's crowning,” he says. “I promised we'll stop by before heading home.”

Ashley tilts her head at Grayson, and he nods at her. “Go to the hospital,” she says.

“We will once-”

“Go now,” she says. “Everyone, actually, go now. Give them my love.”

Nodding, Lex giggles. “I see what you're saying. Come on, everyone, let's give the newlyweds their privacy.”

“What can I say? My husband's a sexy beast.”

“Okay, gross,” she says. “Even if I am best man. Come on, let's go before they decide to make us stay and clean up.”

“Crap,” Grayson jokes as everyone gives them hugs before heading off to their various vehicles.

Colt holds Lex's door open for her, and she climbs inside. “After we see Lily, we need to stop somewhere. I don't know if I can wait until we get home.”

“We also have to get the kids, hunny,” Lex says as he climbs into the driver's side, her hand reaching over to rub against his jeans. “Don't forget about them.”

Moaning, he shifts. “You can't do that when I'm driving.”

“Maybe we should stop at the bluffs. Give them time to clean off the kid and everything before we get there.”

“You're the brains of the relationship, that's for sure,” he says and heads towards their spot rather than back into town like everyone else. “I need out of these fucking jeans.”

I t didn't take either long to find their release, and Colt toys with Lex's hair as they walk off the elevator towards the maternity ward.

“Where'd you two disappear to?” Ky asks.

“Nowhere,” Colt says and smirks.

“Seriously, how do you fucking do it?” he asks. “How do you keep that spark burning that damn bright?”

Lex wraps an arm around Colt's waist. “It helps that my husband is built like a Greek god.”

“I think I'm pretty damn sexy myself,” Ky says.

“You may have been the first guy to feel me up, but I still see you as a brother. So, eww.”

Groaning, Colt shakes his head. He hates the fact Ky was the first to cop a feel of Lex when they were at a party back when they were fifteen. Not that he can be too upset, considering that was the same night he got his first blowjob from Ky's sister.

“I'm going to go see her,” Lex says and walks into the room where Lily lies with her head back against the pillow.

“She seems good,” Ky says and nods towards Lex through the window of Lily's room. “Still pissed at Felicity, but otherwise, she seems good. Hugged Jennings without throwing a punch, too.”

Colt nods and watches Lex take the baby from Phoenix. “Even called VP during the first dance. She's doing really good. It's crazy the difference the space has made.”

“You don't regret it? Moving?”

“Not for a second. After everything we've been through, I'd fucking move to Mars for her. I'd do anything she needs.”

“Why does she look sad?”

He watches Lex holding the baby, and he knows what she's thinking. “There's something I haven't told you, Ky.”

“What's that?”

“You can't say anything to anyone, especially Felicity. Lex should tell her when and if she's ready.”

Pushing him further from the room, Ky looks at him. “You're kind of freaking me out. What happened?”

“Part of Lex's anger with everyone and the club, and a big reason why we needed to step away from Griffin's Beach is because she was pregnant when she was kidnapped.”

His face falls. “What?”

“We didn't know until afterwards when she went to the doctor. Thought she had a parasite or some bacteria or something from that fucking water they used to waterboard her. I guess she swallowed some of it or something, but she found out she'd lost a child we didn't know we had. She had to have a procedure to… I don't know... help remove whatever was left. I don't really understand much other than we lost a baby.”

“Jesus,” he says in a whisper. “We're lucky she didn't kill some of us. I can't... How'd she get through it?”

Colt chuckles dryly. “You know Lex. She just... does.”

“Who all knows?”

“Psycho and Lacey. I called them because Lacey could help in a way I never could. Lex blamed herself, and there was nothing I could do or say to change that. But I'm not sure who else she's told.”

“Fuck,” he mutters.

Sniffling, Colt shrugs. “I think she told Jennings, but I'm not positive. And it's almost a guarantee, she told Lily. Those two share pretty much everything.”

“Your parents?”

“Nope, and I don't think her parents do, either. In a way, I think she feels a little ashamed about what happened. We weren't exactly in a good place when I knocked her up. You know, considering she freaked out after we had sex with a meltdown because I'm a fucking moron.”

“She has nothing to feel ashamed of.”

“Tell her that,” he says. “You know you can't tell her nothing.”

They both laugh, and Lex walks out holding the little boy. “Colt, meet my newest godson, Porter Hankinson.”

“Where'd they get Porter?” Ky asks.

“After Trunk. His last name was Davenport.”

The man who sacrificed his life to save Jennings during battle was like a father to Phoenix when he joined the club. Trunk's never far from their minds or hearts.

“That's beautiful,” Colt says. “You're just the magical godmother to many of the kids here.”

“If there's ever an epidemic that takes out half the club, we'll have a football team,” she says with a laugh. “Isn't he adorable?”

Taking the baby from her arms, he feels the same pang of pain he saw on her face earlier. As happy as he is for Phoenix and Lily, he can't help but think about what they should have had. How this could have been them months ago.

Phoenix walks out and holds his hands out. “I see that look on your face, Nichols. You are not leaving here with my baby. Come on, give him back.”

Laughing, he hands Porter to Lex and body blocks Phoenix. “Run, baby.”

“I'll bring him back to his mama,” Lex says. “Unless he already has a new one!”

They wait until she's back in the hospital room, and Ky places his hand on his shoulder. “That looked hard.”

“It was,” he says. “You have a beautiful baby boy, man.”

“Lily told me about... the thing. I'm sorry, man,” Phoenix says.

Colt nods. “Everything happens for a reason. That's what I keep telling myself. If I don't, I think I'd go crazy.”

“That's so cute,” Ky says and shakes Colt by the shoulders. “Colt thinks he’s sane!”

Punching him, he laughs. “Fuck off.”

“Colt, I do have to ask you something. Well, two things, and I have them strategically ordered,” Phoenix says.

“What's up?”

“First, we'd like you to be Porter’s godfather.”

Hand on his heart, he nods. “I'd be honored.”

“Second, are you and Lex ever coming back home? Permanently?”

Letting out a sigh, he shrugs. “I don't know, man. Summerville has become home for us. And you can't deny the difference it's had on Lex.”

All of them stare at the curly blonde sitting on the bed with Lily, and Phoenix nods. “Yeah, she looks... lighter. I'd never really noticed how weighed down she seemed before.”

“If we come home, it's going to be when she's ready. I'm waiting for her to come to me with that decision because it has to be hers to make. If she decides to.”

“I get it, but I had to ask, you know. Lily has really been missing her. We both want what's best for our wives, but what's best for each of them doesn't really align.”

His phone buzzes in his pocket. “God, I'm the most popular man in the club today. I'm kind of a big deal, in case you didn't know,” he says and laughs. “Hey, Mom.”

“Colt, I need a favor.”

“How many bottles of wine am I picking up on the way to the house?”

“No, not that,” she says. “Wait, I am getting kind of low, though.”

Rolling his eyes, he shakes his head. “What do you need?”

“Well, we were talking, Emma and me, and we both miss having the kids around so often. Would you two be okay if we had them for the week? We can bring them back to Summerville to save you the trip, but we miss our grandbabies.”

“Hold on,” he says and walks into the room. “Baby, the grandmas want to keep the kids for a week. Is that okay with you?”

Lex turns to him. “You mean, is it okay if we have an entire week to ourselves? In our house? Alone? Clothes optional?”

“I think we can make that work, Mom.”

“Oh, thank you, baby. I'll call you later to figure out arrangements.”

“I hate you both,” Lily says. “After the lack of pain meds, I'm kind of hesitant to let Phoenix touch me again, even after the six-week healing time.”

Shaking her head, Lex stands. “How many times have we had this conversation? There are plenty of other ways to get your rocks off while not causing issues to the stitches. Tongues, for example, work great. And once you get the big O, you'll remember it's totally worth it.”

Phoenix laughs and takes the baby. “Thanks for coming, guys.”

“Of course! You two make really cute kids, and I plan to spend a lot of time with them soon, but we should probably get back home.”

“Yeah, we have stuff to do... around the house,” Colt agrees.

“Like each other,” Lily laughs. “Have fun. Scream out in ecstasy for me.”

“Oh, I will,” she says and kisses her cheek. “Love you.”

They walk out as Felicity comes back from the cafeteria, both women glaring the other down before Lex and Colt walk into the elevator. Maybe it's a good thing they don't plan to move back to Griffin's Beach anytime soon. Things would definitely explode otherwise.